The room instantly became like an ice cavern.

Zhong Changrong’s first thought was to call Zhu Yong back.

His suspicions now had proof.

“So, is Young Master Liang returning from his wayward path?” he said coldly.

He had many words wanting to pour out—when did it start? What did you do? Was Shipo City’s fall your doing? But the words reached his lips and he swallowed them.

“Who is that person!” He only asked the most crucial question.

Liang Qiang’s expression remained unchanged. He didn’t think what he’d said was so frightening, nor did he find Zhong Changrong before him particularly dangerous.

He shook his head. “It’s not that I won’t tell you—I truly don’t know.”

Don’t know? Zhong Changrong looked at him.

“Whether the General believes me or not, I’m telling the truth,” Liang Qiang said, smiling slightly. “Moreover, I’m not really returning from a wayward path. I saved you for my own sake.”

Zhong Changrong smiled coldly. “Perhaps interrogation and prison will help you remember.”

Liang Qiang nodded. “And starting investigations from the people around me, you’ll surely find something.”

He was even proactively suggesting methods? Zhong Changrong looked at him.

“But the other party isn’t stupid. As soon as you move, he’ll certainly notice and cut off the trail,” Liang Qiang said, then smiled self-mockingly. “As for me—whether locked up for interrogation or killed outright—what does it matter? I’m actually nothing. My death would cause no loss to the other party, and wouldn’t benefit you either.”

He looked at Zhong Changrong.

“If I die, you won’t survive either.”

“I can’t guarantee that the next time you face danger, someone will be as soft-hearted as me.”

The room froze again.

After a moment, Zhong Changrong said coldly, “You’re not soft-hearted. You want something.”

Liang Qiang didn’t deny it and nodded. “Yes, General. What I want is not to die—not to die worthlessly.”

Without waiting for Zhong Changrong to speak, he stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

“Eliminating me won’t help you find the person behind this, and more hidden dangers will emerge around you. So please, General, keep me. I’ve already honestly revealed my secrets to you. I no longer pose any danger to you.”

This scene was something Zhong Changrong had never imagined. He looked at the young man kneeling before him, unable to hide the shock in his eyes.

Liang Qiang actually—

Actually was like this—

Actually was Liang Qiang—

Though he’d been wary of the Liang father and son, that was all. He’d never looked closely at this Young Master Liang, never investigated what kind of person he was.

This young man was about the same age as Xie Yanlai. Though his appearance wasn’t as striking as Xie Yanlai’s, he was still quite handsome. Neither his previous labor service nor these two years of battlefield slaughter had worn away the bearing of a noble family’s son.

That was a bearing different from Xie Yanlai’s.

Zhong Changrong sneered inwardly again—it was also a refined yet decadent bearing. No matter how happily he smiled, his body was shrouded in gloom that even sunlight couldn’t penetrate.

Whereas Xie Yanlai, no matter how gloomy his expression, always burst with light from within, wanting to tear through the darkness.

“Young Master Liang is truly a bold person,” he said slowly.

Liang Qiang moved his lips, wanting to tell Zhong Changrong that Miss Chu Zhao, the Empress, had said he was a valiant person.

He steadied himself and didn’t speak, listening to Zhong Changrong continue.

“…You did such things, yet dare to negotiate terms with me?”

Liang Qiang shook his head. “It’s not boldness. I just don’t want to die. Of course, if the General wants me dead, I’ll die immediately.”

Here he looked at Zhong Changrong.

“All you’ll get is a dead me. I won’t say another word.”

Zhong Changrong said coldly, “Is this a threat?”

Liang Qiang shook his head again. “It’s a fact. That person has accomplished so many incredible things—do you think you can find him through me? I’m just a tool. When tools aren’t needed, they’re nothing.”

Zhong Changrong looked at him and smiled mockingly. “If that person is so capable, and you’ve violated his orders, will he let you live?”

Liang Qiang bowed again. “That’s why I need the General’s trust in me. Then I can deceive him, persuade him, blind him.”

The room froze again.

It seemed like a long time passed, yet also just a breath.

Zhong Changrong said flatly, “Get out.”

“Thank you, General.” Without saying another word, Liang Qiang stood and took his leave.

As Liang Qiang left, the room returned to quiet. The commotion outside dispersed following Liang Qiang. Zhong Changrong lay in bed, his expression grave, seemingly still thinking. Then he sighed.

“General,” he murmured, “being a great general really isn’t easy.”

He instinctively tried to raise his hand to rub his forehead, then realized he no longer had a right hand, and his left hand couldn’t move for now either.

He sighed again, then took a deep breath and called for Xiao Shan.

After calling several times, Xiao Shan finally poked his head through the window. “What does the General want? There are people outside to answer your calls. I’m a colonel—I have many things to do—”

Zhong Changrong glared at him, interrupting his chattering.

“Invite Lord Zhu here,” he said, then added, “Take away the Xi Liang man’s head.”

Xiao Shan glanced at the table and muttered, “Why didn’t you have him take it earlier? General, you really did injure your head.” Without waiting for Zhong Changrong to scold him, he lowered the window and ran off.

Zhong Changrong exhaled in bed. Not only is my head uninjured, it’s become smarter.

Zhu Yong, who hadn’t gone far, returned quickly. Entering the door without even glancing at the head on the table, he asked quietly, “What matter does the General have?”

It’s so much easier talking to intelligent people, Zhong Changrong reflected. He knew coming back for the head was just an excuse and cover.

“What I mentioned earlier,” he looked at Zhu Yong. “It’s been confirmed.”

……

……

Though such a major event as the commander being ambushed had occurred, the atmosphere in the military camp wasn’t depressed. The attackers had been annihilated in time, and the troops had pursued them all the way to the Xi Liang royal city, forcing the Prince of Xi Liang onto a cart and making the entire city of Xi Liang people migrate further west.

As soon as Commander Zhong gave the order, they could campaign even further west.

Seeing Liang Qiang riding in, the military camp became even more fervent.

“Colonel Liang!”

“Colonel Liang, when do we attack the Prince of Xi Liang!”

“Cut off one of the Prince of Xi Liang’s arms!”

Hearing these shouts, Liang Qiang smiled. “I just met with Commander Zhong. He said he’ll personally lead everyone to do this.”

The soldiers erupted in cheers.

Liang Qiang dismounted and walked through the cheering toward the wounded soldiers’ camp. Seeing him enter, the wounded soldiers also greeted him warmly.

“Colonel Liang is here.”

“Your companions are much better.”

When Liang Qiang was demoted from guerrilla general to colonel, he lost command of thirty thousand troops, but his personal guards still followed him. In the previous battle to rescue General Zhong, many had died or been injured.

Liang Qiang thanked them and walked into a room under everyone’s watchful eyes.

This room had only two beds, with two soldiers lying on them seemingly asleep.

“I believe what I did was right,” Liang Qiang said directly, looking at them.

One soldier opened his eyes and smiled. “What? Is Young Master Liang seeking a reward?”

Liang Qiang paid no mind to his mockery. “Just as I said before—keeping my arm didn’t affect our transaction. Keeping Zhong Changrong alive also doesn’t affect what we need to do. If Zhong Changrong died, inheriting everything from him wouldn’t be easy—it would instead attract more competition. Better to let him live while I gain his trust and win his favor. That’s actually easier.”

The soldier’s expression turned cold. “Young Master Liang, you only need to do what you’re told. How things are done doesn’t require your consideration.”

“Young Master Liang,” the other soldier also opened his eyes, saying flatly, “Go arrange your funeral affairs. Don’t waste time here.”

They had wanted to kill Liang Qiang in that chaotic battle, but once swept into the fighting, they couldn’t control it. Those crazed Xi Liang soldiers had instead become a human wall protecting Liang Qiang.

But it didn’t matter. There were plenty of ways to kill someone.

Liang Qiang, traitor—you’re dead.

Liang Qiang said, “My death wouldn’t benefit you either. The border army campaign is over. Cultivating another person like me won’t be easy.”

The soldier laughed incredulously. “So now Young Master Liang has confidence and has come to threaten us?”

Liang Qiang shook his head. “I’m not threatening.” He looked at the soldier. “I just want to live more like a human being. Please treat me as a person.”

The soldier was about to speak when the other stopped him, looking at Liang Qiang and saying flatly, “Stop wasting words. Whether you can be treated like a person depends on your life.”

Liang Qiang paid no mind to this threat. “You were right earlier—I’ve come for a reward. Please tell him to arrange for me to kill Deng Yi and Xiao Xun. Now that I have Zhong Changrong’s trust, if I also gain the glory of slaying rebels, my position will be unmatched.”

……

……

Slender fingers tapped on the table.

“Valor,” Xie Yanfang said, raising his head to look at Steward Cai across from him. “Isn’t really a virtue. It’s merely obsession.”